LOS ANGELES -- “Mad Men” and “Damages” have a shot at Emmy nomination history.

AMC’s 1960s Madison Avenue drama and FX’s legal thriller, both semifinalists for the Emmy nods that were to be announced early Thursday, could be the first basic cable series to get best-series bids.

“The Wire,” the critically acclaimed HBO drama about police and drug dealers in Baltimore, had one last shot at ending years of Emmy snubs after wrapping its final season.

The shows were on the list of 10 drama series and 10 comedies that emerged as favorites in balloting by TV academy members.

The final list of nominees was determined with the help of blue-ribbon panels that screened submitted episodes for the top vote-getters.

Nominees in the top categories for the 60^th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards were to be announced at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences by Kristin Chenoweth, Neil Patrick Harris and TV academy Chairman John Shaffner.

The Emmy Awards ceremony will be held Sept. 21 and broadcast on

ABC.